TRUMP: I 'took a pass' on being named Time magazine's Person of the Year

President Donald Trump has said he passed on being named Time magazine's Person of the Year because of certain obligations.

Trump won the title in 2016.

In a public poll, Trump is tied for second place — with 5% of votes — with two other candidates.

President Donald Trump claimed he was one of the top candidates for Time magazine's Person of the Year, but decided to pass on the opportunity because of certain obligations.

"Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named "Man (Person) of the Year," like last year," Trump tweeted Friday.

"But I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot," his tweet continued. "I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!"

Trump won the title in 2016 for what the magazine said was his knack for "reminding America that demagoguery feeds on despair," "truth is only as powerful as the trust in those who speak it," and for "empowering a hidden electorate by mainstreaming its furies and live-streaming its fears, and for framing tomorrow's political culture by demolishing yesterdays.'"

Trump took exception to the award that year, after the magazine published his picture with the accompanying title on the cover: "PRESIDENT OF THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA."

"They give me this honor and then they have to go a little bit of this stuff," Trump said to supporters in December. "I haven't been president. What are you saying that for? But you know what, we're going to bring the nation together," he said.

Time will announce this year's Person of the Year on December 6. The magazine has opened a public poll, in which Trump is tied for third place at 5% of the vote along with the hashtag #MeToo, which stems from the recent wave of sexual-harassment allegations that emerged in various industries, and "The Dreamers" — undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US.

At the time of this post, Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is ranked No. 1 with 21% of the vote.